Creffield House, Oxford Road, Lexden, Colchester, CO3 3HW

This is a very fine example of the type of Victorian architecture you find in Lexden. The current owners have enhanced both the interiors and externally creating a stylish family home.

With high ceilings over both levels and capacious rooms, CreffIeld House also comes with a South facing garden, detached studio and off road parking for up to five cars.

UNIQUE HISTORY Standing proudly within its own grounds, which include a large driveway, south-facing gardens and a separate studio space, Creffield House has a fascinating past.

It is one of the very early examples of cavity wall building and was home to the chief medical officer from Essex County Hospital. The house has a long history as a doctor's house.

Accommodation Ground floor Entered via an airy vestibule, with large glass doors leading into the kitchen breakfast room.

This beautiful, bespoke space has been created in the style of Neptune, with an attractive centre island and breakfast bar, ample unit and work surface space and high specification integrated appliances.

There is a ground floor utility room and cloakroom, together with a converted cellar which offers a multitude of uses.

The cellar did have sections for wine, ice and coal but has now been opened up to make one large space, with its own external access.

Moving on you will find an impressive, double-aspect drawing room, with its period fireplace and wood-burning stove. The room is south and west facing and enjoys glorious sunshine.

In fact, this house as a whole is very bright as the sun moves around and comes in somewhere throughout the day.

A second reception room is being used as a family room which also has a bay window, has been enhanced with fitted cabinetry and stylish wood burning stove.

First floor Ascending the stairs a generous landing gives way to four double bedrooms and three bathrooms. Two of the bathrooms have recently been upgraded with a contemporary finish.

All bedrooms are of a good size. As with downstairs, all the beautiful sash windows have been carefully refurbished.

DESIRABLE LEXDEN There are many reasons why Lexden is so desirable, including its proximity to the City centre and good, local, independent shops.

It offers sizeable homes, interesting architecture and good access to outdoor spaces.

Both Hilly Fields and Lexden Park has been declared nature reserves and have some old parkland and mature woodland adjoining a wildflower meadow and an ornamental lake.

The mature oaks in the south-eastern corner, probably 400 years old, are a particular feature and from near here there are also views of Lexden Dyke, an earthwork dating from the 1st century AD.

The house is just three minutes' walk from Crouch Street, with its excellent delicatessen, and is in the catchment area of some of the best schools in the country.

READY TO ENJOY It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk into the centre of Colchester from Creffield House.

Renowned for its history and its castle, the town also has a good range of high street stores, supermarkets and leisure facilities, as well as a mainline railway station, with regular trains running to London.

It is easy to pick up the A12 within a few minutes' drive of the property and there is good access to picturesque Essex and Suffolk countryside and coast.

"This house has everything a family could want," advises the owner.

"It has been finished to a very high standard and is ready for someone to move in and enjoy." SETTING THE SCENE Creffield House sits centrally within its own corner plot.

To the front there is a generous, private drive, with ample space for a number of cars to park. The grounds also include a recently converted detached office/studio.

There is a south-facing garden, with sun terrace for outside dining and entertaining. There is a further lawned garden, with space for children to play.

WHATS NEARBY The property is a short stroll into the town centre with good shopping facilities, restaurants, cinema and galleries.

It is within easy reach of Ofsted outstanding schools, Colchester County High School for Girls and Colchester Royal Grammar school two of the top schools in the country.

There is also a range of excellent private and state schools, St. Mary's, Oxford House and the Sixth Form College. The house benefits from being within the Hamilton Road Primary school catchment area.

WITHIN EASY REACH The A12 which connects with the M25, heads south towards London or North to Ipswich. Stanstead, the nearest airport is a 50 minute drive away.

Towards the Essex and Suffolk border is ' Constable Country' a landscape immortalised by the great painter John Constable.

The popular Suffolk coastline of Aldeburgh and Southwold are also within easy reach.